Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on the Gambling Commission imposing a £3 million fine on Camelot for paying out on an alleged fraudulent prize claim, said:

“Thousands of organisations rely on money from the National Lottery and the millions of people who play it are right to expect that the rules of the game are fair.

“Camelot has very serious questions to answer about this fraud, which should never have been allowed to take place. So too do ministers. Karen Bradley was asked only yesterday in Parliament about security breaches at the National Lottery and she failed to offer assurance that the Government is taking steps to improve it.

“The Government must now make an urgent statement about the great lotto robbery.”

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Notes to Editors

Letter from Tom Watson to Karen Bradley 

Dear Karen,

The decision by the Gambling Commission to impose a financial penalty of £3 million on Camelot for serious breaches of its operating licence is deeply shocking and calls into question the integrity of the National Lottery. Thousands of organisations rely on money from the National Lottery and the millions of people who play it have the right to expect that the rules of the game are fair.

Only yesterday I asked you at DCMS Questions whether you could give the House your absolute assurance that the National Lottery is safe, and you told me “I met Camelot and am working with it to ensure that it is as secure as it possibly can be”. I asked you to return to the Dispatch Box if there were any further revelations of security breaches at Camelot, and in the light of today’s news I hope that you will do so at the earliest possible opportunity next week.

In the meantime, I would be grateful if you would provide answers to the following questions.

1. When were Ministers informed of the allegedly fraudulent National Lottery prize claim for which the Gambling Commission has imposed a financial penalty of £3 million on Camelot?

2. What action did Ministers take when they were made aware?

3. The Gambling Commission found that Camelot was in breach of its Licence requirement “to ensure that all Processes and Procedures are Fit for Purpose”. Are Ministers satisfied that the National Lottery is Fit for Purpose? What measures have they taken to satisfy themselves of this?

4. Are Ministers satisfied that Camelot adhere to all their statutory obligations? What measures have they taken to satisfy themselves of this?

5. Given the public interest in this case, what action are Ministers taking to ensure that Camelot’s records in relation to its decision to pay out on the fraudulent claim, and any correspondence with the recipient of the payment, are made public?

6. Why did the police not announce that they were investigating an alleged multi-million pound robbery at the National Lottery?

7. According to Camelot, the police decided earlier this year to take no further action in relation to this case. Why?

8. What civil action is underway to recover any money paid out as a result of fraud?

9. Who in Camelot authorised the payment on the allegedly fraudulent claim? What disciplinary action, if any, was taken, and is that person still employed by Camelot?

10. Given the seriousness of this breach, will Ministers now review the terms of Camelot’s licence?

I look forward to hearing from you, and – as you said yesterday – to discussing these matters over the Dispatch Box.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Watson

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